The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards featured exciting wins and important moments, highlighting different music styles. Megan Thee Stallion hosted the event at UBS Arena in New York, showcasing amazing performances and honoring various global artists.
Taylor Swift Breaks Another Record
Taylor Swift was the star of the night, winning seven awards, including ‘Video of the Year’ for her song “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone. This made her the most-awarded artist in VMA history. She also won ‘Artist of the Year’, ‘Best Collaboration’ with Post Malone, and ‘Best Pop’.
Swift’s success showed her wide appeal and ability to change with the times. “Fortnight” became very popular, and her partnership with Post Malone brought together two big names in music. She also won ‘Best Direction’ for the same song, highlighting her skills as an artist and a creative thinker.
Diversity in African Music: Tyla’s Important Win
South African singer Tyla won ‘Best Afrobeats’ for her song “Water,” beating strong competitors like Burna Boy and Tems. Her win is significant for South African music, which is usually overshadowed by West African artists. In her speech, Tyla pointed out that African music is diverse, including genres like Amapiano and Afro-fusion, and shouldn’t just be called “Afrobeats.”
Tyla appreciated the recognition but stressed that there is more to African music than just one category. Many African artists feel that calling all African music “Afrobeats” overlooks the different styles that exist. The VMAs only having one category for “Afrobeats” reflects a bigger issue of representation in global music.
Other Winners of the Night
Other notable winners included Sabrina Carpenter, who won ‘Song of the Year’ for “Espresso,” and Chappell Roan, who was named ‘Best New Artist’. Eminem won ‘Best Hip-Hop’ for “Houdini,” and Lenny Kravitz took home ‘Best Rock’ for “Human.”
Music Category Representation
The VMAs featured many music categories, but there is still a need for better representation of all genres. Anitta won ‘Best Latin’ for her song “Mil Veces,” and LISA won ‘Best K-Pop’ for “Rockstar.” Tyla’s comments highlight that award shows need to do more to showcase the variety of music from different regions.
A Call for Better Diversity in Music Recognition
Tyla’s win and comments started a conversation about how African music is recognized in mainstream awards. While Afrobeats has gained popularity, it doesn’t represent all of African music, like Amapiano, which has also made waves globally.
There’s a tendency to group all African music into one category, which limits how diverse African music is acknowledged. Artists and fans are asking for a more inclusive approach that celebrates different music styles from across the continent.
Conclusion: Celebrating Diversity in Music
The 2024 VMAs were a celebration of music and culture. Taylor Swift’s wins and Tyla’s comments reflect changes in the music industry as new voices and genres emerge. As audiences become more aware of different sounds, the music industry should adapt and recognize this diversity.
Tyla’s win and her insightful critique remind us that awards should truly reflect the variety of music being celebrated. The VMAs and other platforms have a chance to promote a better understanding of music that goes beyond labels, celebrating the rich sounds that make up global music culture. This will help ensure that all artists, regardless of where they come from, get the recognition they deserve for their contributions to music.
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